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// Endurance Reborn 
// Story: Eljunbyro 
// by Imploding Colon 
//------------------------------//

	My eyes fluttered open.  I was clad in a silken nightgown.  The stars of Emeraldine twinkled above me, full of nebulaic color and cosmic splendor.  This was Verdestone; I understood now.  I also understood who I was, and who I wasn't.

"She is lacking faith," I murmured.

Above me, Whitemane's angelic features smiled.  She gave a gentle nod.  "You are the means of rekindling that spark, child.  You can bring the wind back to Austraeoh."

I panted, gazing down at my hooves.  My coat was a golden yellow.  I reached up and felt a stubby horn in the center of my head.  A lump formed in my throat.

"You can help her save this broken machine of a world..."

A whimper escaped my lips.  "Pilate..."  I breathed heavily.  "My beloved.  I want to save him..."

"Tell me, child.  How long have you been doing benevolent things for an industry that knows nothing but hate and pain?"

I looked up at her, my lips quivering in the starlight.  A tear rolled down my cheek.  "Ledomare has always been a source of strength, a foundation of science and—"

"To what end?"

I said nothing.

Whitemane lowered and nuzzled me dearly.  She quietly murmured into my ear, "There will always be an end to things, my child.  It is up to us to make something beautiful out of it.  Tell me, where is the beauty in your life?"

I grimaced.  My eyes clenched shut as I felt my head drifting towards the stone of the balcony.  "It's... it's always g-galloping away from me... away from us.  We were so close to finding purpose, and... and th-they took it all away."  I sniffled and sobbed, "They're always taking so much away..."

"Shhhh..."  Whitemane nuzzled me again, like a mother to her foal.  I could feel the regal smile in the tone of her voice.  "They shall not take away anymore.  You have been robbed for the last time."

"I'm... I-I'm so weak... so helpless," I exhaled in hoarse bursts.  "I don't know how to make it stop—"

"It is not about stopping, but about beginning," Whitemane said.  She caressed my chin so that I was gazing up tearfully at her.  "Re-energize the spark.  Bring Austraeoh back from the depths.  Give her the wind—the faith that she needs—and she will do the rest."  She smiled, her eyes full of stars.  "You and your beloved will find harmony."

"Harmony...?"  I murmured.

"Yes, child.  After all..."